Synthetic Marijuana Test - K2 / K3 Drug Testing

Synthetic
Cannabis (Spice)

The Spice Drug or Synthetic cannabis
is an herbal and chemical product which mimics the effects of cannabis. It is
best known by the brand names K2 and Spice. When synthetic
cannabis products first went on sale it was thought that they achieved an effect
through a mixture of legal herbs. Laboratory analysis in 2008 showed this was
not the case and that they in fact contained synthetic cannabinoids which act on
the body in a similar way to cannabinoids naturally found in cannabis, such as
THC. Synthetic cannabinoids, including cannabicyclohexanol, JWH-018, JWH-073,
and HU-210, are used in an attempt to avoid the laws which make cannabis
illegal, making synthetic cannabis a designer drug. It has been sold under
various brand names, online, in head shops and at some gas stations. It is
marketed as an incense or "herbal smoking blend", but the products are usually
smoked by users. Although synthetic cannabis does not produce positive results
in drug tests for cannabis, it is possible to detect its metabolites in human
urine. The synthetic cannabinoids contained in synthetic cannabis products have
been made illegal in many European countries, but remain legal under federal law
in the USA. Several US states have made it illegal under state law.

Rapid testing for the detection of JWH-018 and
JWH-073 metabolites in urine. JWH-018 and JWH-073 are the primary
synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists responsible for the euphoric
and psychoactive effects that imitate marijuana and are among the
numerous compounds found in “herbal” incense or smoke blends.

JWH-compounds are now being sprayed on herbal material and sold as “fake
weed” or “synthetic marijuana.” Users looking for a “legal high”
often turn to popular herbal smoking products mar­keted under brand
names such as K2, Spice, Genie, Smoke, Pot-pourri, Buzz, Pulse,
Hush, Mystery, Earthquake, Ocean Blue, Stinger, Serenity and many
others.

Lab-based testing for the detection of JWH-018 and
JWH-073 metabolites in urine. JWH-018 and JWH-073 are the primary
synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists responsible for the euphoric
and psychoactive effects that imitate marijuana and are among the
numerous compounds found in “herbal” incense or smoke blends.

JWH-compounds are now being sprayed on herbal material and sold as “fake
weed” or “synthetic marijuana.” Users looking for a “legal high”
often turn to popular herbal smoking products mar­keted under brand
names such as K2, K3, Spice, Genie, Smoke, Pot-pourri, Buzz, Pulse,
Hush, Mystery, Earthquake, Ocean Blue, Stinger, Serenity and many
others.

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds
that mimic the effect of THC, the principle active ingredient of cannabis. Like
THC, they bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain and were initially
developed as therapeutic agents for the treatment of pain. However, these
psychoactive research chemicals are frequently being sprayed on herbal mixtures
and sold as “fake weed” or “synthetic marijuana.” JWH-018 and JWH-073 are the
two most common synthetic cannabinoid chemicals found in a variety of herbal
smoking blends. Others like JWH-250, JWH-081 and CP47, 497 have also started
appearing in some products and preparations.

How are synthetic cannabinoids being used?

Legal in most states, JWH-018 and JWH-073 are
the two most popular synthetic cannabinoids used today. Reportedly offering a
high 4 times stronger than marijuana, JWH-018 and JWH-073 are commonly
associated with herbal smoke and incense products sold under names like K2,
Spice, Serenity and others.

Synthetic cannabinoid chemicals are often laced
in the herbal smoking products that are readily available via the Internet and
in many “head-shops” around the country. Users looking for a “legal high” often
turn to these herbal smoking or incense products because they do not show up on
a standard urine drug test.

Users smoke the product by wrapping joints,
smoking it in pipes, or inhaling fumes via vaporizers. Users also report that
herbal blends or pure chemical concoctions can be ingested with an infusion or
solvent process; purportedly allowing them to manage the potency and dose of the
active ingredient(s).

What are the effects of using synthetic
cannabinoids like JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-250 and others?

JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-250 and other similar
chemicals are the primary synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists responsible
for the euphoric and psychoactive effects that imitate marijuana and are among
the numerous compounds found in herbal incense and smoke blends. These
synthetic cannabinoids do not contain cannabis but produce effects reported up
to 4 times the strength of THC/marijuana. Users indicate the high comes on slow
at first, then with surprising potency. There have been many reports about the
adverse effects including agitation, rapid heart rate, confusion, dizziness and
nausea. In fact, the American Association of Poison Control Centers issued a
warning about the dangers of synthetic marijuana products in March 2010.
Long-term effects from these research chemicals are unknown.

The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) does not regulate the products, but maintains they are not approved for
human consumption. Without proper ingredient labeling or measured potency,
users increase the risk of overdosing. To complicate labeling and dose concerns,
some reports indicate many popular brands are now counterfeit

or fake brands.

What is the legal status of these
chemicals?

While legal under federal law,
products containing JWH-018 and JWH-073 are banned in several states and by the
U.S. armed forces. At present, JWH-250 is illegal in only one state. Legal
restrictions on these compounds are likely to be imposed nationwide.
Additionally, they are banned by a number of European countries, including
Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Russia, as well as South Korea. The Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) labeled them a “drug and chemical of concern”
in 2009.

Why use our Lab to test for
synthetic cannabinoids?

Our Lab is one of the largest,
full-service, independent drug and alcohol testing laboratories in the United
States.

Our LAB utilizes state-of-the-art
screening and confirmation methodologies for urine and oral fluid drug testing
and is trusted by over 7,000 customers. These customers rely on the our Lab
promise that “We’ll find out.”

Advantages of using our Lab services
include:

• First lab in the world to offer
synthetic cannabinoid urine metabolite test; to our knowledge, first to provide
saliva testing too

OUR LAB laboratory analysis confirmed JWH-018
and JWH-073 as the primary active ingredients in 37 herbal smoking mixtures, and
established test methods to identify the presence of their metabolites in urine.

How long can JWH-018 and JWH-073 be detected
in urine?

The presence of metabolites in urine confirms
ingestion of JWH-018 and JWH-073. JWH-018 and JWH-073 metabolites can be
detected in urine up to 72 hours (depending on usage/dosage).

How long can JWH-018, JWH-073 and JWH-250 be
detected in oral fluid?

Drugs in oral fluid can be detected from minutes
up to 24-48 hours after ingestion.

How is JWH-018 and JWH-073 metabolized in
urine?

Both JWH-018 and JWH-073 metabolize extensively
in humans via oxidation and glucuronide conjugation. Depending on dosage, the
hydroxylated JWH-018 and JWH-073 and the carboxylated JWH-018 metabolites can be
detected up to 72 hours in urine. Parent drug excreted in human urine has not
been reported.

What are the cut-off levels?

There are no cut-off levels for OUR LAB’s Urine
Synthetic Cannabinoid Test. Toxicology result reporting for JWH-018 and JWH-073
will indicate either “Detected” or “Not Detected.” The cut-off level for the
oral fluid test is 0.5 ng/mL for JWH-018, JWH-073 and JWH-250.

Will a standard drug test detect synthetic
cannabinoids?

Conventional drug test panels will not detect
the broad range of synthetic cannabinoids. They pass undetected in standard
urine or oral fluid testing for such drugs as cocaine, marijuana, heroin and
amphetamines. Our Lab’s Urine or Oral Fluid Synthetic Cannabinoid Test can be
ordered with your standard panel to ensure detection.

How accurate and reliable is the our LAB
Urine Synthetic Cannabinoid Test?

To reduce false-negative results, the detection
method relies on monitoring multiple metabolites for each of the compounds.
Other labs that only look for the parent drug in urine will report many false
negative results. Our Lab’s test methodology provides the most definitive
synthetic cannabinoid biomarker test results.

How accurate and reliable is the our LAB Oral
Fluid Synthetic Cannabinoid Test?

There’s a drug popular with teens in the U.S.
that many parents may never have heard of, but worst of all – it is legal (in
most states). This drug, called “Spice” or “K2” is said to give the user a
marijuana-like high. Sold in shops and online as incense, it is being smoked as
a legal alternative to marijuana. But this drug appears to have far more
dangerous side-effects and without the necessary regulation, consumers have no
idea what they’re really getting.

Spice originally appeared on the scene in the
late 1990s, but didn’t really become popular until 2008. As the drug gained
popularity in Europe, scientists began conducting research into the composition
of this drug and any potential effects on the body. As a result of these
investigations, many countries subsequently banned Spice including Germany,
France, Chile, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and
the U.K. The United States currently has no such ban on the drug, likely due to
the fact that it has only recently become popular in the U.S.

German researchers were able to determine that
Spice contained a variety of synthetic cannabinoids, which are chemical
compounds devised to produce marijuana-like effects. There was a high quantity
of other synthetic chemicals found as well, indicating that a user really has no
way of knowing what they are being exposed to. Worse yet, Spice appears to have
many negative side effects that marijuana does not such as anxiety attacks,
hallucinations, nausea, and a chemical dependency. Three teenagers in Roswell,
GA were recently hospitalized after using Spice. One teen had a severe reaction
to the drug, resulting in swelling of the brain.

Currently the only way to test for the use of
Spice is by lab drug testing. Theoretically, children under the age of 18 cannot
buy the drug, as head shops and online stores are not supposed to sell to
minors. As this drug is still legal in the U.S., many people may be led to
believe that it is a safe alternative to marijuana. This could not be further
from the truth. Parents, teachers, and lawmakers need to be made aware that this
drug is out there and that it has the potential to harm the lives of our
children.

Spice Drug History

According to the
Psychonaut Web Mapping Research Project, synthetic cannabis
products, sold under the brand name Spice first appeared
in Europe in 2004. The brand "Spice" was released in 2004 by the
now dormant company The Psyche Deli in London, UK. In 2006 the
brand gained popularity. According to the Financial Times the
assets of The Psyche Deli rose from £65,000 in 2006 to £899,000
in 2007. The EMCDDA reported in 2009 that ‘Spice’ products were
identified in 21 of the 30 participating countries. Because
'Spice' was the dominant brand until 2009, the competing brands
that started to appear from 2008 on, were also dubbed 'Spice'.
Spice can therefore relate to both the brand 'Spice', as to all
herbal blends with synthetic cannabinoids added. A survey of
readers of Mixmag in the UK in 2009, found that one in
eight respondents had used synthetic cannabis, compared to 85%
who had used cannabis.

Ingredients of Spice
/ K2

Synthetic cannabis is
claimed by the manufacturers to contain a mixture of
traditionally used medicinal herbs, each of which supposedly
produces mild effects with the overall blend resulting in the
cannabis-like intoxication produced by the product. Herbs listed
on the packaging of Spice include Canavalia maritima,
Nymphaea caerulea, Scutellaria nana, Pedicularis
densiflora, Leonotis leonurus, Zornia latifolia,
Nelumbo nucifera and Leonurus sibiricus. However,
when the product was analysed by laboratories in Germany and
elsewhere, it was found that many of the characteristic
"fingerprint" molecules expected to be present from the claimed
plant ingredients were not present. There were also large
amounts of synthetic tocopherol present. This suggested that the
actual ingredients might not be the same as what was listed on
the packet, and a German government risk assessment of the
product conducted in November 2008 concluded that it was unclear
what the actual plant ingredients were, where the synthetic
tocopherol had come from, and whether the subjective
cannabis-like effects were actually produced by any of the
claimed plant ingredients or instead might possibly be caused by
a synthetic cannabinoid drug.

Synthetic cannabinoid
ingredients

I

n
January 2009, researchers at the University of Freiburg in Germany announced
that an active substance in Spice was an undisclosed analogue of the synthetic
cannabinoid CP 47,497. Later that month, CP 47,497 along with its dimethylhexyl,
dimethyloctyl and dimethylnonyl homologues, were added to the German controlled
drug schedules. In May the analogue of CP 47,497 was named cannabicyclohexanol.

In July 2010, it was announced that
JWH-018 is one of the active components in at least three versions of Spice,
which had been sold in a number of countries around the world since 2002, often
marketed as incense. Another potent synthetic cannabinoid, HU-210, has been
reported to have been found in Spice seized by U.S. Customs and Border
Protection. An analysis of samples acquired four weeks after the German
prohibition of JWH-018 took place found that the compound had been replaced with
JWH-073.

Different ratios of JWH-018 and CP
47,497 and their analogues have been found in different brands of synthetic
cannabis and manufacturers constantly change the composition of their products.
The amount of JWH-018 in Spice has been found to vary from 0.2% to 3%.

Safety

No official studies
have been conducted on its effects on humans. Though its effects
are not well documented, extremely large doses may cause
negative effects that are generally not noted in marijuana
users, such as increased agitation and vomiting. Professor John
W. Huffman who first synthesised many of the cannabinoids used
in synthetic cannabis is quoted as saying, "People who use it
are idiots." "You don't know what it's going to do to you." One
study reported a single patient exhibiting withdrawal symptoms
and another, psychosis.

Drug Testing

Spice does not cause
a positive drug test for cannabis or other illegal drugs using
GC-MS-screening with library search, multi-target screening by
LC-MS/MS, or immunological screening procedures. A study has
been conducted into the detection of metabolites of JWH-018 in
urine, the metabolites are mainly conjugates with glucuronic
acid and can be reliably detected by GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS.

Legal status

United States

Some forms of
synthetic cannabis (HU-210) are currently scheduled in the USA
under federal law while others are not (JWH-073). The Drug
Enforcement Agency considers it to be a "drug of concern".
Several states have passed acts making it illegal under state
law however, including Kansas in March 2010, Georgia and Alabama
in May 2010, Tennessee and Missouri in July 2010, Louisiana in
August 2010, and Mississippi in September 2010. An emergency
order was passed in Arkansas in July 2010, banning the sale of
synthetic cannabis. In October 2010, the Oregon Board of
Pharmacy listed synthetic cannabinoid chemicals on its Schedule
1 of controlled substance, which means that the sale and
possession of these substances is illegal under the Oregon
Uniform Controlled Substances Act. According to the National
Conference of State Legislatures, several other states are also
considering legislation, including Michigan, New Jersey, New
York, Florida, Indiana, and Ohio. Illinois passed a law on July
27, 2010 banning all synthetic cannabinoids that goes into
effect January 1, 2011. Michigan banned synthetic cannabinoids
in October 2010

Following cases in Okinawa and Japan
involving the use of synthetic cannabis by Navy, Army and Marine Corps personnel
resulted in the official banning of it, a punitive general order issued on
January 4, 2010 by the Commander Marine Corps Forces, Pacific prohibits the
actual or attempted possession, use, sale, distribution or manufacture of
synthetic cannabis as well as any derivative, analogue or variant of it. On June
8, 2010, the U.S. Air Force issued a memorandum that banned the possession and
use of Spice, or any other mood-altering substance, among its service members.